February was a quiet month fishing wise with various issues keeping me away from the waters edge.
A day at Slade Reservoir dead-baiting produced a pike of 16lb a pleasing result and a pleasing way to spend a winters day.
A trip to Blakewell Fishery one Sunday morning to use a 2 fish ticket I had been given at their Christmas Competition resulted in a brace of hard fighting rainbows.
A trip to the shoreline with the big rods resulted in one dogfish and one missed bite!
My talk show at Lynmouth Pavilion proved an enjoyable experience with thirty odd people making the effort to attend. Only one person fell asleep to my knowledge and everyone I have spoken to gave positive feedback. It was certainly great to speak with several afterwards and rekindle old friendships with a little reminiscing.
The weather brought about the cancellation of two boat trips one out Ilfracombe the other from Weymouth. A minor issue for me but it must be a major concern for those who try to make a living from taking anglers afloat.
A trip to Nick Harts at the end of February saw me stock up with a few bits for the coming months. A few salmon flies, a new pair of wading boots, a couple of lures for the bass and even a few carp flies! After the long winter its good to look forward to spring and summer.
A trip to the coast with my mullet rod resulted a grey mullet of around 2lb 8oz a significant fish as it now completes my year in as much that I have now landed mullet from the North Devon Coast in every calendar month.
March 1st – The start of new salmon season is here and it seems hard to believe. After lunch at the Grove Inn with members of the River Taw Fisheries Association it was time for a trip to the Taw. The River was running high but very fishable; we fished for two hours asking the question at each pool. Flicking the fly across the river and allowing it to search the lies as slowly as possible. Daffodils were already in flower and snowdrops lingered from the end of winter. Soon the wild garlic will taint the air with its delightful aroma. The first swallows and martins will soon be flitting across the valley. To catch a salmon would be the icing on the cake to be back in the river as it flows reassuringly onwards is enough; there is after all a whole season to look forward to.
